Netanyahu terms Iran a global threat. Zarif responds: 'Cartoonish circus’

Another battle is taking place between Israel and Iran at the International Security Conference in Munich. The Israeli premier shows the (alleged) fragment of a recently demolished Iranian drone. For Teheran, these are just attempts to distract from internal political problems. Israel's raid in Gaza in response to rocket launches from the Strip. 


Teheran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A harsh exchange of words has taken place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a new escalation of tension between the two great rivals of the Middle East region.

Opening fire - so far only in words - on the weekend the Israeli premier, who was speaking at an international conference,  showed an (alleged) Iranian drone shot down in recent days. Immediate replication of Tehran's chief of diplomacy, who defines Netanyahu as a "cartoonish circus".

The Israeli premier spoke at the Security Conference which took place over the weekend in Munich, Germany. He appealed to the international community, stressing that it is time to stop the Iranian "threat". Recalling the failure of a similar meeting in 1937, when European leaders were unable to contain German expansionism, he warned that the policy of dialogue and confrontation with Iran does not work.

Continuing the intervention, Netanyahu attacked the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement (the JCPOA) and said he was ready to retaliate against "Tehran's tyrants" in case of assault. Finally, addressing the Iranian foreign minister, the Israeli premier showed "a piece of Iranian drone. Mr Zarif, do you recognize it? You should, since it is yours "- he concluded.

Tehran's head of diplomacy, who also spoke at the Munich conference immediately responded calling Netanyahu’s demonstration a "cartoonist circus " and the accusations against Iran regarding the drone "a statement that does not even deserve the dignity of a response".

Zarif did not want to make any mention of the object shown by the head of the Israeli government, who is going through a delicate moment on the internal front with investigations of the judiciary open against him. Hence the mention of Zarif in his speech, when he said that some "use cartoons to justify strategic mistakes or perhaps to avoid an internal crisis".

The Iranian leader spoke about Netanyahu's "obsessive" attitude towards Iran and added that the country will "respond" if the United States wants to modify or withdraw from nuclear agreements. In this regard, he then specified that "we will certainly not be the first to violate" the atomic pact. Finally, Zarif hinted at the recent escalation of tensions between Israel, Syria and Lebanon, denouncing what he calls "almost daily illegal raids" of Israeli fighters in Syrian airspace.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of today, some Israeli planes hit Hamas targets in Gaza, in response to the launch of rockets from the Strip According to initial information there would be no casualties or injuries on either side. (DS)